Thread: Methods, Booleans, and Initializing, OH MY!!

Ok, so I want to start off by saying that I am finishing my Associates in Computer Information Systems, and I AM NOT A PROGRAMMER!! I am not good at it and it is extremely difficult for me to wrap my head around it (which is odd for me because I love to learning; I am learning to speak Russian just for fun).

So, my assignment is to fill in the blanks of code with my own to get the outcome of a tic tac toe game. Here is all of the code:

/*
 * 
 */
package tictactoe;
 
/**
 *
 * @author Gorgo
 */
public class TicTacToe {
// #2. variable and constant declarations - given by book
	static int [][] gameboard;
	static final int EMPTY = 0;
	static final int NOUGHT = -1;   //PLAYER O
	static final int CROSS = 1;	//PLAYER X
 
 
	// #3. utility methods - given by book
	static void set(int val, int row, int col) 
                throws IllegalArgumentException {
			if (gameboard[row][col] == EMPTY)
				gameboard[row][col] = val;
			else throw new IllegalArgumentException
				("Player already there!");
		}
 
 
	static void displayboard() {
		for (int r = 0; r < gameboard.length; r++) {
			System.out.print ("|");
				for (int c = 0; c < gameboard[r].length; c++) {
					switch (gameboard[r][c]) {
						case NOUGHT:
							System.out.print("O");
							break;
						case CROSS:
							System.out.print("X");
							break;
						default:		//Empty
							System.out.print(" ");
					}
					System.out.print("|");
				}
				System.out.println("\n--------\n");
		}
	}
 
	// #5. define createBoard method - MY CODE
	static void createBoard(int rows, int cols) {
            //#6. Initialize gameboard
            int[][] createBoard = new int[rows][cols];
                for (int r = 0; r < 3; r++) {
                    for (int c = 0; c < 3; c++) {
                        createBoard[rows][cols] = -1;
                    }
                }
 
        }
 
        //#6. define winOrTie method - MY CODE
        static boolean winOrTie() {
            // #6. determine whether X or O won or there is a tie - MY CODE               
            int winner = -2;
 
            for (int r = 0; r < 3; r++)
                if ((gameboard[r][0] == winner) && (gameboard[r][1] == winner)
                        && (gameboard[r][2] == winner)) {
                    return true;
                }
		for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
			if ((gameboard[0][j] == winner) && (gameboard[1][j] == winner)
					&& (gameboard[2][j] == winner)) {
				return true;
			}
 
		if ((gameboard[0][0] == winner) && (gameboard[1][1] == winner)
				&& (gameboard[2][2] == winner)) {
			return true;
		}
 
		if ((gameboard[0][2] == winner) && (gameboard[1][1] == winner)
				&& (gameboard[2][0] == winner)) {
			return true;
		}
 
		return false;                    
 
        } 
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //#8. contents of main() - given by book
      displayboard();
      int turn = 0;
      int playerVal;
      int outcome;
 
      java.util.Scanner scan = new java.util.Scanner(System.in);
 
      do {
 
            playerVal = (turn % 2 == 0) ? NOUGHT: CROSS;
 
            if (playerVal == NOUGHT)
                System.out.println ("\n-O's turn-");
                    else System.out.println ("\n-X's turn-");
                        System.out.print ("Enter row and column:");
 
            try {
                set (playerVal, scan.nextInt(), scan.nextInt());
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
                {System.err.println(ex);}
 
            turn++;
                outcome = winOrTie();
		}
 
        while ( outcome == -2 );
            displayboard();
                    switch (outcome) {
                        case NOUGHT:
                            System.out.println("O wins!");
                                break;
                        case CROSS:
                            System.out.println("X wins!");
                                break;
                        case 0:
                            System.out.println("Tie.");
                                break;
                    }
}	        
}

So, the errors that I am getting are:
#1. "Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException"
this is pointing to the 'displayboard' method:

static void displayboard() {
		for (int r = 0; r < gameboard.length; r++) {   //here at this line
			System.out.print ("|");

and here:

 public static void main(String[] args) {
        //#8. contents of main()
      displayboard();  //here at this line
      int turn = 0;
      int playerVal;
      int outcome;

My problem that I am having with these errors is: 1. these particular lines of code were given to me; I did not write them; 2. I don't understand why it is pointing at the first bit. Everything that I have read in my text book says the exact same code.

Therefore, my question is why is this one line (the 'displayboard method') an error.

Thank you all in advance

Well, I really don't know. There are so many 'boards' being initiated. As I am looking over my code, I don't see the "gameboard" being initiated. And to be honest, I don't know where I would initiate it. Would it be under the CreateBoard method?

Please quit playing the dumb blonde and make an effort. If you don't, you won't get much help, unless Norm happens by.

You could search for "gameboard" in whatever editor you're using and find every mention of gameboard and probably see where it is being initiated. If you can neither search for nor recognize the initialization when you see it (even thought the initialization is commented in the code), then you should read the book from which this problem came. You may have to start at the beginning.

This is a pretty complicated assignment for someone who claims to know as little as you do, and we don't have the time or the desire to teach you what you apparently have missed, for free anyway. Someone might take you on as a paid project. We'll help you for free, but you need to make an effort. And we can't write the program for you.

UPDATE: Yeah!! I got it almost running!! I apologize, I am super excited... because, like I said, I am NOT a programmer. Ok, so I have one last error. And I can proudly say that it is not my code. (Confession, the errors before were my fault; I have learned from them and now I am moving on )

So, here is my updated code:

/*
 * 
 */
package tictactoe;
 
/**
 *
 * @author Gorgo
 */
public class TicTacToe {
// #2. variable and constant declaraions
	static int [][] gameboard;
	static final int EMPTY = 0;
	static final int NOUGHT = -1;   //PLAYER O
	static final int CROSS = 1;	//PLAYER X
 
 
	// #3. utility methods
	static void set(int val, int row, int col) 
                throws IllegalArgumentException {
			if (gameboard[row][col] == EMPTY)
				gameboard[row][col] = val;
			else throw new IllegalArgumentException
				("Player already there!");
		}
 
 
	static void displayboard() {      
		for (int r = 0; r < gameboard.length; r++) {
			System.out.print ("|");
				for (int c = 0; c < gameboard[r].length; c++) {
					switch (gameboard[r][c]) {
						case NOUGHT:
							System.out.print("O");
							break;
						case CROSS:
							System.out.print("X");
							break;
						default:		//Empty
							System.out.print(" ");
					}
					System.out.print("|");
				}
				System.out.println("\n--------\n");
		}
	}
 
	// #5. define createBoard method
	static void createBoard(int rows, int cols) {         
            //#6. Initialize gameboard
            int[][] createBoard = new int[rows][cols];
                for (int r = 0; r < 3; r++) {
                    for (int c = 0; c < 3; c++) {
                        createBoard[r] = createBoard[c];
                    }
                }
 
        }
 
        //#6. define winOrTie method
        static boolean winOrTie() {
            // #6. determine whether X or O won or there is a tie                
            int winner = -2;
 
            for (int r = 0; r < 3; r++)
                if ((gameboard[r][0] == winner) && (gameboard[r][1] == winner)
                        && (gameboard[r][2] == winner)) {
                    return true;
                }
		for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
			if ((gameboard[0][j] == winner) && (gameboard[1][j] == winner)
					&& (gameboard[2][j] == winner)) {
				return true;
			}
 
		if ((gameboard[0][0] == winner) && (gameboard[1][1] == winner)
				&& (gameboard[2][2] == winner)) {
			return true;
		}
 
		if ((gameboard[0][2] == winner) && (gameboard[1][1] == winner)
				&& (gameboard[2][0] == winner)) {
			return true;
		}
 
		return false;                    
 
        } 
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //#8. contents of main()
      createBoard(3,3);
      int turn = 0;
      int playerVal;
      int outcome;
 
      java.util.Scanner scan = new java.util.Scanner(System.in);
 
      do {
 
            playerVal = (turn % 2 == 0) ? NOUGHT: CROSS;
 
            if (playerVal == NOUGHT)
                System.out.println ("\n-O's turn-");
                    else System.out.println ("\n-X's turn-");
                        System.out.print ("Enter row and column:");
 
            try {
                set (playerVal, scan.nextInt(), scan.nextInt());
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
                {System.err.println(ex);}
 
            turn++;
                outcome = winOrTie();  // ERROR IS HERE: "required: int  found: boolean"
		}
 
        while ( outcome == -2 );
            displayboard();
                    switch (outcome) {
                        case NOUGHT:
                            System.out.println("O wins!");
                                break;
                        case CROSS:
                            System.out.println("X wins!");
                                break;
                        case 0:
                            System.out.println("Tie.");
                                break;
                    }
}	        
}

I understand what this error message is saying, however I don't know how to correct the BOOK'S code. The method 'winOrTie()' needs to run at some time, I just don't know when. And I don't know what int to put there to make this statement correct.

--- Update ---

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

Please quit playing the dumb blonde and make an effort. If you don't, you won't get much help, unless Norm happens by.

You could search for "gameboard" in whatever editor you're using and find every mention of gameboard and probably see where it is being initiated. If you can neither search for nor recognize the initialization when you see it (even thought the initialization is commented in the code), then you should read the book from which this problem came. You may have to start at the beginning.

This is a pretty complicated assignment for someone who claims to know as little as you do, and we don't have the time or the desire to teach you what you apparently have missed, for free anyway. Someone might take you on as a paid project. We'll help you for free, but you need to make an effort. And we can't write the program for you.

That is very rude of you. I AM trying. I have been searching the internet and trying desperately to understand and do this on my own. Coming here was a last resort. But I had no idea that people like you were on here and making people like me feel even worse.
You know, if you don't have anything nice to say, then maybe you shouldn't say anything at all.
And you're right, I don't know very much about programming, programming languages, let-alone Java. I thought that I could come here and get pointed in the right direction and not be criticized or judged.
I am not working my butt off on this degree to program. These classes are required. I am working towards specializing in Systems Analysis and Design. And my bachelors is in Business, not programming.
So, before you go spouting off your judgments, maybe you should rethink your choice of words.

That's better. Welcome back!

Inspect the winOrTie() method to determine what it does, what it returns, and how that return can be useful.

There's an assumption made by that method (I think) that may not be obvious, but it's kind of like the riddle, "Where do you always find the thing you're looking for?" You can use the assumption made by the winOrTie() method to determine whether 'X' or 'O' won the game and then set the variable outcome.

Originally Posted by NickieBoren

The method 'winOrTie()' needs to run at some time, I just don't know when.

Every time it has become possible for a win or a tie... immediately after every move is made.

Originally Posted by NickieBoren

I am not working my butt off on this degree to program. These classes are required. I am working towards specializing in Systems Analysis and Design. And my bachelors is in Business, not programming.

Food for thought: Those classes are required for a reason.